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UK - The R & B group - a North of England conference provider - recently took delivery of eight new KV2 Audio EX 10's to enhance the audio side of its hire stock. Based in Newcastle, and looking after a multitude of clients including, The Sage Theatre, Inside Communications and RCN Congress, the company has been waiting for a flexible but highly portable solution such as Ex 10 for some time.

Ian Byrom, project manager, picks up the story. "We first heard the EX 10's at PLASA and from that point arranged a demo in a venue local to us, the Newcastle City Hall. At that demo we were amazed by the clarity and throw of such small boxes even in such a large hall, and knew immediately that they would fit the bill in satisfying our more discerning conference clients.

Being individua

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UK - Blackburn-based rental operation HSL has purchased over 200 units of the powerful ColorSpot 1200 AT and ColorWash 1200 AT fixtures from Robe UK. It's one of the largest European sales of moving heads to date from Robe Show Lighting based in the Czech Republic, and will help establish the brand on the UK lighting rental map.

HSL's Simon Stuart and Robe UK's Ian W Brown completed the deal, and the units will immediately go into HSL's busy hire department run by Sean McGlone. Simon Stuart says: "Today's market is about having a large quantity of rental stock and a fast turnaround, so it was essential that we chose the right fixtures that are reliable and easy to maintain. The Robe 1200 AT series has all the attributes you'd expect from a top quality product. This, plus the two year warranty - giving fixed costs - ensures the units are highly cost effective to run." H

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UK - Lift Turn Move Ltd (LTM) has relocated to larger premises, just six months after starting trading in September 2004. The company has expanded so rapidly that more space became essential almost immediately. The new 5,600sqft premises is triple the size of the previous unit, but still located on the same trading estate - with all its transportation and access advantages, including easy access by train.

The new space offers a much larger office and a voluminous warehouse and workshop production area, which will be utilized for LTM's constantly expanding product range. A bigger prep area will make it easier for equipment to be assembled, tested and packaged before despatch.

LTM's John Jones says: "We started off modestly on the Argyle Industrial Estate because we had to be operational in time for our official launch at PLASA 04 - at only eight days old! However by the en

featured content

Indochine X PixMob Fan Immersion

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's - 40 thousand LED pixels on a ceiling!!! Indochine's whirlwind tour transports fans to another level of the live experience - immersing them from floor to ceiling with PixMob's X4 wristbands, and an LED ceiling made entirely of its NOVA Minis! With the vision of Indochine's creative team, PixMob used its LED fan-technology to turn attendees and venues into an ocean of effects, and a starry sky of LED magic. Très très cool!

Read more about the Indochine tour in the latest issue of LSi

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The Netherlands - Dynamic signage systems are becoming increasingly popular in international airports, where they provide an ideal platform for both passenger information and advertising. One of the latest locations to benefit from such an installation is Lounge 1 departure hall at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.

Installed by systems integrator, Hecla Professional Audio & Video Specialists, two Lighthouse 10mm LED screens, one measuring 2.56m (w) x 6.72m (h), the other 2.56m (w) x 1.92m (h) are flown above a pool of water in the centre of the lounge. "We chose these screens because of their perfect pixel pitch for this application, reliability, and their IP-65 water resistant front rating, as they are above water and need to meet with stringent safety regulations," explains Peter Slütter of Hecla. "M4 Technology [Lighthouse's proprietary uniformity control system

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UK - Laser Electronics Ltd has introduced three new versions of its laser lightshow and multimedia software packages to include: Millennium - an entry level package, which allows 2D control of any laser system; Zion, which offers advanced features such as importation of 3D Studio max files and one of the most advanced 3D engines ever developed for laser lightshow use. Finally V3D, which not only allows the control of any laser system, but also offers the user the ability to emulate any laser effect from a standard video projector.

The Zion package is the simplest to use, true 3D system on the market. Ideally it is suited to creating long, complex shows from scratch utilizing the latest in virtual reality style instant feedback and attacks the most time consuming aspect of Laser Lightshow programming - generating animations. Features include: Free-form 3D; trace scanned-in bitmap

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USA - Color Kinetics has informed PLASA Media that Bill Groener has resigned from his post with the company, with effect from 1 April. The resignation is based solely on personal reasons, say the company. Groener has commented: "The last year has been full of challenges and accomplishments and I am truly grateful to Bill Sims and George Mueller for the opportunity that they gave me. Color Kinetics is (and will continue to be) a tremendous operation and I have great respect for the work that we have done and for the people who 'make it happen' day in and day out. I have absolutely no doubts that the initiatives that we started will result in profitable growth and that Color Kinetics will remain the market leader when it comes to Intelligent Solid-State Lighting."

The statement from Color Kinetics said: "We at Color Kinetics thank Bill for his tremendous contributi

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Canada - Cast Software announced the first release of Vivien - a new software application for event and meeting professionals servicing corporate and special functions, incentive meetings, tradeshows, expositions, weddings, and parties alike.

"Vivien is the easy-to-use design solution that event professionals have been asking for," comments Bob Mani, VP sales and business development. "We are merely addressing the needs of event professionals worldwide who are looking for a way to create more captivating events and ultimately, win more contracts. Vivien will become an indispensable member of their team."

Simple and intuitive, event professionals can browse through and select from a 3D library of diverse items, including tables, chairs, décor, AV, architectural, banquet, and staging items. By placing them into a chosen venue they can create a virtual repre

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UK - The Fuel concept, created by Richie Warren, is part record company, part dance culture and very much a bass-heavy roadshow - utilizing an XTA-controlled Funktion One sound system built into a pair of American muscle cars. The Fuel Roadshow visits major auto and music events across the UK and Ireland, with their two Dodge Challenger sound-system cars - rigs that look, sound and feel incredible, according to Fuel. The XTA DP224 and DP6i act as crossovers at the centre of the system.

The Fuel sound system has become infamous for its uncompromising approach to quality. It has been set up at parties and clubs, including the MaxxPower after-show party, where DJs Tim Westwood, Deekline, MJ Cole, Richie Don, Lawgiverz and the Ragga Twins played to thousands of Fuel fans. In January 2005, Fuel went indoors and installed a Funktion One sound system into the Medicine Bar, part of the

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Czech Republic - Robe Show Lighting has been appointed the exclusive Moving Light supplier for the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest. The company will provide 330 ColorSpot 1200 AT and ColorWash 1200 AT fixtures for the event, which is to be staged in Kiev, Ukraine with the final broadcast live on 21 May.

Spectra Plus from Stockholm Sweden, Eurovision's technical production co-ordinators for the last five years approached Robe about being a partner in the show which is renowned for its ambitious visual aesthetics. The show is also marking its landmark 50th anniversary.

Spectra's Ola Melzig and Jan Erik Jansson and National Television of Ukraine's director of International Relations, Pavlo Grytsak, initially approached Robe's Josef Valchar and Harry von den Stemmen at PLASA 2004.

Extensive testing of the suggested Robe fixtures were undertaken in Sweden, in conjunction with Robe's

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Norway - For Video 4, EVI Audio's new intercom distributor in Norway, the LLB trade show in Oslo (10-12 February 2005) was just the start they wanted. The company reports making numerous contacts and receiving highly enthusiastic feedback. Attracting the most interest on the stand was the BTR-700 wireless system from RTS/Telex. Manuel Brico, Telex product manager for EAME, who with Peter Roberts, the new sales manager for Intercom Europe, was supporting the Video 4 team at the show, was delighted by the response, commenting: "The BTR-700 was the absolute show-stopper at the LLB. The large number of enquiries augurs well for a great success."

Founded in 1998, Video 4 also includes in its portfolio audio/video matrix signal distributors and a complete range of camera accessories. EVI Audio is happy to have found in Video 4 a greatly respected, efficient and highly motiv

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Germany - The 35th 'Ball des Sports', organized by the foundation Deutsche Sporthilfe, and under the patronage of the German Federal President Prof. Dr. Horst Koehler, took place on 5 February in the Festhalle Frankfurt under this year's slogan Nacht der Sterne. More than 2,000 guests, including celebrities and Olympic champions, enjoyed a spectacular show equipped with latest technology.

As the show's media technology partner, CT Germany provided the LED specials, projections and peripheral equipment for the Ball des Sports. On behalf of event producer Kogag, the CT team offered full service including installation, support and dismantling with the technical project management of the CT Düsseldorf sales office.

The highlight of the stage set was CT's new Soft-LED: a dynamic LED curtain, it showed video and graphic content which was created specifically for this show.

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USA / Germany - From 1 April 2005, Blue Microphones' range of high-quality studio and home-recording microphones will be distributed by EVI Audio outside the USA and Japan. The microphones of the Californian company, which have won numerous accolades for their design and performance, complement EVI Audio's existing range in the microphone sector. During the Frankfurt ProLight&Sound exhibition (6-9 April 2005), EVI Audio will be presenting the current Blue Microphones product line, including two models produced exclusively for Electro-Voice: the Cardinal and the Raven.

As Mathias von Heydekampf, President Telex Pro Audio, explains: "There are three good reasons for the new partnership with Blue Microphones. Firstly, Blue Microphones is an undeniable force on the studio scene; their products - like all of ours - are solutions, not 'me too' products. Secondly, we are convince

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Czech Republic - The 11th Prague Quadrennial, international competitive exhibition of scenography and theatre architecture, will celebrate its 40th year of existence in 2007. The Prague Quadrennial is organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic and realized by the Theatre Institute in Prague. Theatre professional Arnold Aronson (USA) has been appointed to the role of General Commissioner of the PQ 07.

PQ 07 will again create three basic competitive sections: the Section of National Exhibitions, the Section of Architecture and Technology, and the Student Section - Scenofest, which will be organized together with OISTAT (International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians). Countries have until June 30, 2005 to announce the name of the National Curator who will be the guarantor of the artistic and organizational aspects of the national ex

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UK - Following its original run in 2002, the Raymond Gubbay production of Carmen recently returned to London's Royal Albert Hall with PRG Europe at the heart of a spectacular visual presentation.

Running from February into early March, it was public demand which brought the return of Bizet's opera for a limited season of just 12 performances. Directed by David Freeman, it was again performed in the round, on a spectacular swirl-shaped ramp and circular pit designed by David Roger. Lighting design for both runs of Carmen was by Andrew Bridge, but this time with PRG Europe supplying a range of Vari-Lite fixtures from its extensive inventory to light the show, along with over 100 conventional lights and 40 colour scrollers.

Bridge's original design was inspired by the model photos he was given of the proposed production, before the original 2002 production: "

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UK - i-Vision has won the 'Special Projects' category of the 2005 Lighting Design Awards, for its innovative design and installation of an LED lighting scheme on the new set of GMTV.

The Welsh-based company offers creative lighting design, installation and project management plus the manufacture of LED and conventional architectural light sources. i-Vision's Luke Dodd said: "It's great to receive such a fantastic reward, following the past few years of cutting edge systems development and specification. It's a tribute to the whole company who have worked incredibly hard to produce genuinely unique and ground-breaking LED technologies."

The GMTV installation was a first for UK television. GMTV's lighting director/designer John Allard approached i-Vision's Luke Dodd wanting a complete change for the studio lighting - to colour-changing LEDs. I-Vision designed the syste

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USA - Beginning this year, all operations of Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) in Europe will be known by one name. As of 31 March, Transtechnik Lichtsysteme in Germany and IES in Holland will join the company's current locations in London, Copenhagen and Rome under the common banner of ETC.

"Calling ourselves 'ETC' means much more than a simple name change," says the company's Bill Gallinghouse. "It represents the total integration of the people, technologies and products of four strong companies and brands into a unified portfolio. Now we can offer the best lighting solutions to each European market."

ETC has assembled a strong group of talented people in Europe by combining Transtechnik, IES and Avab with the ETC Europe team. "Their unparalleled dedication to products and service is evident in the relationships that they have developed with their c

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The Netherlands - Prolyte has developed a hybrid coupler the CCS6-610, an innovative product for the 30 and 40 series truss. The first introduction of the CCS (conical coupling system) has changed the way truss can be used and assembled. The introduction of a hybrid conical coupling system is a step further ahead.

As Marc Hendriks, Prolyte's engineering director, states: "Although it might seem very futuristic, for Prolyte it was a natural step, as we are constantly looking for way's to improve our products. In this process we do not hesitate to use new materials or methods."

The hybrid coupler is a combination of metal, encapsulated in synthetic material. The coupler can replace the current aluminium CCS6-600 coupler and lives up to the same specifications for strength and tolerances. The advantage of the hybrid coupler is first of all it's price, which will be less

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UK - The new Siena console has already lived up to the Midas legend by making an early appearance with Mr Robert Plant, who performed at the annual MAS Records evening at Kidderminster Town Hall.

Plant is a patron of MAS Records, which was set up to provide expertise and resources for the development of music, and has close ties with the community in the Kidderminster area, where Midas is based. Although Plant has attended the annual MAS event in the past, this was the first time he'd performed. This year's event was being filmed for a DVD, with proceeds being donated to the Artist Legacy Fund, an organization that provides talented musicians with support to promote and develop their work.

"Because it was being filmed and recorded, and featured such a high profile singer as Robert, MAS needed high quality equipment, and this is where Midas came in," says Kevyn Gammon

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USA - Elation Control Systems (ECS) has introduced two digital DMX recorders, the DPR 1 (a tabletop 'pocket' recorder) and DR 512 (a 19" rack-mount version), which the company says will allow the user to copy all the scenes in a light show and then run the entire show at the touch of a button, with all the ease and speed of using a VCR. The DPR 1 and DR 512 are digital real-time recorders, so can record a whole light show including hold and fade times, rather than copying each scene individually and then requiring the operator to "sequence" all the scenes together, as non-digital recorders do, say Elation.

The DPR 1 and DR 512 were designed to work with any major brand of universal DMX controller. Each of the units has the capacity to record and store up to four complete light shows into its internal memory; 33 complete light shows can be stored into external me

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UK - The new family of 700W fixtures from Vari*Lite will be shown for the first time in the UK next week at the RSAMD (Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama) in Glasgow on the PRG stand. The fixtures both featuring full CMY colour mixing, glass dimmer wheels, separate strobes and the extraordinary optical zoom ranges that Vari*Lite users have long enjoyed. David Ripley of the RSAMD said, " It is excellent to see an industry leader such as Vari*Lite showcasing new products here and we hope that visitors and our students can benefit from this."

The Vari*Lite VL2500 Spot luminaire is based on a very popular existing lighting tool - the VL2000 Spot luminaire, adding new features that make it even more appealing. The VL2500 Spot luminaire comes complete with all of the qualities and options designers love from the original Series 2000 fixtures. It continues to be small

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The Netherlands - On 1 January 2005 Rapenburg Plaza BV started its new business from Amsterdam. Rapenburg Plaza is a joint venture of DLA (Dutch Lighting designers Association) and Ground Zero located in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Rapenburg Plaza will focus on lighting design, showcontrol design and programming for theatre, opera, film, museums, TV, theme parks, architecture etc. The production works and trade venture of Ground Zero will now be handled by Rapenburg Plaza. Ground Zero BV will maintain the research and development department, with products like the KISS Box and the Ground Control Console developments.The sales and service representation will also move to Amsterdam. This will be the case for the Dutch distribution of e:cue lighting control systems, the North European dealership for Richmond Sound Design and the Dutch dealership for Medialon ShowControl software.

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